The following sections provide some background and links to the information sheets for specialist sectors affected by the F gas regulations. If you have any further questions on the EU F gas Regulation please contact us.

• Fluid supply
• Metered dose inhalers
• Aerosols/one component foam
• Electronics
• Magnesium
• Foam
• Solvents

Each information sheet indicates when it was last updated. Over time, the information sheets will be updated to reflect current contact points.

Fluid supply

It is estimated emissions from manufacturing, cylinder filling/handling and supply accounted for 17% of the 2005 UK F gas emissions.

The following information sheets are intended for those organisations who manufacture, import, export or supply F gases to third parties:

• FS 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)
• FS 2 – key obligations (PDF 100 KB)
• FS 3 – getting started (PDF 50 KB)

Metered dose inhalers

Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are a specialised form of aerosol used to administer certain drugs, usually for lung diseases, especially asthma and COPD. MDIs use HFC 134a and are designed to emit all the F gas contained as they deliver the drug.

The following information sheet provides an overview of the F gases uses and obligations for the MDI sector:

• MDI 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)

Aerosols/one component foam

The use of F gas propellants in novelty aerosols was banned from July 2009. Its use in technical aerosols is still permitted.

One component foam is a specialised type of aerosol that is used in the construction industry. It produces a foam that can be used to fill small gaps during construction eg around window frames and has used HFC propellants to deliver the foam. It is common to discharge the whole can or a large part of a can when it is used, which leads to a lot of propellant being discharged in a short period of time. The use of HFCs as the propellant in one component foam was banned from July 2008, except when required to meet national safety standards.

The following information sheet provides an overview of the F gas ban affecting one component foam suppliers:

• OCF 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)

Electronics

The semiconductor manufacturing industry use PFCs and SF₆ as specialist gases in the manufacturing process. The following information sheet provides an overview of the F gas use and obligations affecting electronics manufacturers:

• E 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)

Magnesium

The smelting of magnesium requires molten magnesium is protected from any atmospheric oxygen by a “blanket” of inert gas. SF₆ has been used for this purpose during the last 20 years. The EU F gas Regulation bans the use of SF₆ for die casting in factories using more than 850 kilograms of SF₆ per year. Magnesium Smelting accounted for 7% of the 2005 UK F gas emissions.

The following information sheet provides an overview of the F gas ban affecting magnesium smelting:

• MG 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)

Foam

Certain types of rigid foam, such as polyurethane, phenolic and extruded polystyrene foams, can be made using HFCs as a blowing agent. The foam is usually made in sheet form or as blocks or pipe-sections and is mostly used for insulation purposes.

The following information sheet provides an overview of the F gas uses and obligations for the foam blowing sector:

• FM 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)

Solvents

F gas solvents are used to clean some products in certain manufacturing processes, eg high precision metal components, specialist glass components etc.

In particular, personnel who recover F gas solvents from equipment need to be aware of the obligation to be certificated.

The following information sheet provides an overview of the F gas uses and obligations for the F gas solvent users:

• SV 1 – overview (PDF 100 KB)